The D-Code Podcast

IPC Apex Series, Day 1, Interview 12- Eric Bruner

During the IPC APEX 2025 event, The D-Code Podcast hosted a compelling interview with Dr. Eric Bruner from Aculon, shedding light on the company's cutting-edge surface modification technologies. The conversation delved into Aculon's diverse range of hydrophobic, oleophobic, and other functional coatings, emphasizing their applications within the electronics manufacturing sector. Dr. Bruner highlighted Aculon's focus on creating innovative solutions that enhance performance and reliability, particularly in challenging environments. Discussions included novel coating applications to protect sensitive electronic components from moisture, contaminants, and corrosion, and the importance of these coatings in the continued miniaturization of electronic devices. The podcast also touched upon Aculon's ongoing research and development efforts, revealing their commitment to pushing the boundaries of surface modification technology.

IPC Apex Series, Day 1, Interview 11- Timon Ruban

Timon Ruban joins The D-Code Podcast, the visionary founder behind Luminovo, a revolutionary platform transforming the electronics supply chain. He'll be diving deep into how Luminovo leverages AI to streamline procurement, automate quoting, and foster seamless collaboration among suppliers, designers, and manufacturers. With a mission to modernize an industry often plagued by inefficiencies, he'll share insights into the platform's ability to aggregate critical data, reduce costs, and accelerate time-to-market. Prepare to discover how Luminovo is reshaping the landscape of electronics sourcing, directly from the mind that brought it to life.

IPC Apex Series, Day 1, Interview 10- Elias Malfavon Sr.

How many people active in the SMT world can say they produced products for solder paste deposition when the best available technology was screen printing, with an actual woven mesh screen! Elias Sr. joins the younger model along with the rest of the cast to discuss the evolution of the SMT Stencil industry over his nearly 40 year career. 

IPC Apex Series, Day 1, Interview 9- Megan Wendling

Megan, The Queen of Networking 👑 
Megan Wendling's family history is intertwined with the origins of NEPCON. Today, she leads Megan Wendling Associates, a prominent PR and marketing firm specializing in the electronics manufacturing services (EMS) sector. At IPC APEX 2025, she discussed her background, her company, and her role as a key connector within the industry on The D-Code Podcast. 
Megan Wendling Associates leverages deep roots in electronics assembly to connect leading contract manufacturers with vendors and major clients.
Key takeaways from her interview included:
➡️ NEPCON's Beginnings: Her father co-founded NEPCON over 50 years ago, highlighting its evolution into APEX and its significant impact on the industry.➡️ Industry Expertise: With an MIT background and 46 years of experience, Megan and her team offer specialized marketing services for the aerospace, defense, medical, and automotive EMS markets.➡️ Strategic Networking: Megan brought all 32 of her CM clients to APEX and hosts a notable industry event, fostering connections between EMS leaders, vendors, and clients.
Beyond Public Relations: Her firm facilitates contracts and partnerships, contributing to a robust industry ecosystem.

IPC Apex Series, Day 1, Interview 8- Professor Splice

Larry Welk (Professor Splice) was kind enough to stop by our recording booth and describe how his products help people in my shoes every day.We feel safe saying most people have no idea how difficult it is to pull off a good splice without the proper equipment.Beyond spending time with him in our booth, we also went to his later and got to see his products demoed. He is able to take you through the entire history of splicing methods and the chances of a good splice with each one.Perhaps even more impressive, he can guarantee 100% success with splicing if you follow his methodology (go to his University!)Want to drive your pick and place towards a zero defect process? Don't overlook the setup of your reels and components!

IPC Apex Series, Day 1, Interview 7 - Justin Worden

🧠 What if your consumables supplier axed the middleman and rebooted an industry chapter? That’s Justin Worden’s game plan. Sat down with my buddy live at IPC APEX 2025 D-Code Podcast to unpack how ROCKA Solutions and his SMTA Austin Chapter hustle are shaking things up. 💡 What’s Rocka Solutions? Kicked off as a global distributor for Zestron, Weller, and Indium, they flipped the script during COVID. Now they’re manufacturing SMT stencil rolls and more inhouse with no distribution bloat. ⚙️ Justin’s Highlights: COVID Pivot Power: Raw material shortages? Rocka took control, owning their supply chain for price, quality, and availability that hits. No Markup Nonsense: Skipping 5 layers of distribution means premium consumables at what you should pay no 30% gouging from local rep to local rep to local rep to your floor. SMTA Austin Comeback: As the new (voluntold) president, Justin turned a dormant chapter into a powerhouse catering to exhibitors and attendees. Disruptive’s the word. Justin’s rewriting the rules on sourcing, marketing and community one stencil roll and expo at a time

IPC Apex Series, Day 1, Interview 6 - Nino Hardin

🧠 Imagine if BOM management was as easy as clicking ‘Buy Now’ on Amazon.That’s not a dream anymore it’s what Nino Hardin and the team at Cofactr are making a reality. We sat down live at IPC APEX 2025 to talk about what might be one of the most disruptive tools in the EMS supply chain game right now.

IPC Apex Series, Day 1, Interview 5 - Andrew Schuermann

This one is for you AI buffs out there! Andrew Schuermann talks why we should use AI to eliminate the dull, dirty, dangerous, and disappearing functions within our work days. The conversation sways heavily towards the ability to define down time and it's causes, efficiently utilizing technology to shorten mean time to repair.
 

IPC Apex Series, Day 1, Interview 4 - John Vaughan

Domestic PCB manufacturing has taken a beating, but it is not dead! John Vaughan joins us on set at Apex to discuss all things PCBs and how they play a critical role in US National Defense. John discusses the foundation of the PCBAA and the work this group is doing on "The Hill"
Tune in and enjoy!

IPC Apex Series, Day 1, Interview 3 - David Schild

The Printed Circuit Board Association of America (PCBAA) It does have a nice ring to it for anyone in the industry. Also, if you live in the United States and use any electronic products, this may concern you.We were privileged to sit down with David Schild and speak about the efforts being conducted on Capitol Hill to reshore America's electronic supply chain.This is everything people:-Components, but as we know "Chips don't float"-Board fab-AssemblyIf you don't have every piece of the supply chain secured, you have none of them.